Michael Jackson's doctor ordered to stand trial for manslaughter

The ruling against Dr Conrad Murray came after a six-day preliminary hearing in Los Angeles.

Authorities contend the 57-year-old Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol mixed with other sedatives then failed to provide proper care.

Prosecutors concluded the hearing with testimony from two doctors who said Murray acted outside the standard of medical care. Both witnesses said that even if Jackson had self-administered the last dose of the anaesthetic, his death would be a homicide because of Murray's actions.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor also granted a request by the California Medical Board to suspend Dr Murray's licence to practise in the state. saying he took the action in the interest of public safety, dismissing a request by Murray's lawyer Ed Chernoff to stay his decision to allow an appeal.

He said Murray's lawyers must notify every district in which he practises of the decision within 24 hours. Murray has clinics in Houston and Las Vegas.

The hearing had heard from a range of witnesses who described what they had seen in Jackson's rented mansion on June 25, 2009.

Among the prosecution witnesses was a bodyguard who said he was told to place vials of medicine in bags before calling 911, and paramedics and an emergency-room doctor who said they believe the singer died long before he was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Prosecutors had claimed Murray was distracted when he should have been monitoring Jackson.